Title OC, Occupations Code

Sec. 801.165. REFUND. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), if the board finds that the license holder has committed an act that is grounds for license denial or disciplinary action under Section 801.402, the board or executive director may order a license holder to pay a refund to a co…

Sec. 801.166. RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS. The board, with approval of the governor, may enter into an agreement with another state to allow for licensing by reciprocity. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 874 (S.B. 2155), Sec. 16, eff. September 1, 2025. SUBCHAPTER E. PUBLIC AC…

Sec. 801.201. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION. (a) The board shall prepare information of public interest describing the functions of the board and the procedures by which complaints are filed with and resolved by the board. (b) The board shall make the information available to the p…

Sec. 801.202. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. (a) The board shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the board and to speak on any issue under the board's jurisdiction. (b) The board shall prepare and maintain a written pla…

Sec. 801.203. COMPLAINTS. (a) The board by rule shall establish methods by which consumers and service recipients are notified of the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the board for the purpose of directing complaints to the board. (b) The board shall list with its r…

Sec. 801.204. RECORDS OF COMPLAINTS. (a) The board shall maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the board. The board shall maintain information about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the results of the…

Sec. 801.205. GENERAL RULES REGARDING COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION AND DISPOSITION. The board shall adopt rules relating to the investigation and disposition of complaints filed with the board. The rules must: (1) distinguish between categories of complaints; (2) ensure that complaint…

Sec. 801.2051. PRIORITY OF COMPLAINTS. The board shall assign priorities and investigate complaints based on risk posed to the public by the conduct alleged in the complaint. The board shall prioritize complaints regarding persons engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine wi…

Sec. 801.2052. DISMISSAL OF BASELESS OR UNFOUNDED COMPLAINT. (a) If the board determines at any time that an allegation or complaint submitted by a person is baseless, unfounded, or does not fall within the board's regulatory jurisdiction, the board shall dismiss the complaint. (…

Sec. 801.2055. COMPLAINTS REQUIRING MEDICAL EXPERTISE. (a) A complaint that requires medical expertise to review must be reviewed by one or more veterinarians designated by the board. The veterinarian reviewers shall determine whether to dismiss the complaint or refer it to an in…

Sec. 801.2056. COMPLAINTS NOT REQUIRING MEDICAL EXPERTISE. The board shall adopt rules relating to the evaluation and disposition of complaints not requiring medical expertise. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 27 (S.B. 407), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2005. Amended by: Acts 201…

Sec. 801.207. CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a complaint and investigation concerning a person to whom this chapter applies, and all information and materials subpoenaed or compiled by the board in connection with the complaint and investigatio…

Sec. 801.208. NOTIFICATION TO COMPLAINANT REGARDING COMPLAINT DISPOSITION. (a) The board shall promptly notify a complainant of the final disposition of the complaint, including notice: (1) that the complaint was dismissed; (2) that a penalty, disciplinary action, or other sancti…

Sec. 801.209. REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN COMPLAINTS. (a) In this section: (1) "Anonymous complaint" means a complaint that lacks sufficient information to identify the source or the name of the person who filed the complaint. (2) "Insurance professional" means a person licensed und…

Sec. 801.251. LICENSE REQUIRED FOR PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. Except as provided by Section 801.004, a person may not practice, or offer or attempt to practice, veterinary medicine unless the person holds a license to practice veterinary medicine issued under this chapter. …

Sec. 801.252. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSE TO PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE. The board shall issue a license to practice veterinary medicine to a person who is qualified to be licensed to practice veterinary medicine under this chapter. A person is qualified to be licensed…

Sec. 801.253. LICENSING EXAMINATIONS FOR VETERINARIANS. (a) The board shall conduct licensing examinations for veterinarians as provided by board rule. (b) The board shall provide notice of a licensing examination on its Internet website. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, ef…

Sec. 801.254. CONTENT AND CONDUCT OF EXAMINATION. (a) The board shall conduct, or may contract with a board-approved entity to conduct, the licensing examination on subjects relating to veterinary medicine, including anatomy, pathology, chemistry, obstetrics, public health, veter…

Sec. 801.255. EXAMINATION RESULTS. (a) The board shall notify each examinee of the results of the examination not later than the 30th day after the date the licensing examination is administered. If an examination is graded or reviewed by a national testing service, the board sha…

Sec. 801.2555. EXAMINATION FEE REFUND. (a) The board shall refund the examination fee paid by an applicant who: (1) provides advance notice of the applicant's inability to take the examination; or (2) is unable to take the examination because of an emergency. (b) The board shall …

Sec. 801.256. SPECIAL LICENSE TO PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE. (a) The board may issue a special license to practice veterinary medicine to an applicant who is: (1) a member of the faculty or staff of a board-approved veterinary program at an institution of higher education; (2) …

Sec. 801.257. PROVISIONAL LICENSE TO PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE. (a) The board may grant a provisional license to practice veterinary medicine to an applicant who presents proof that the applicant: (1) is licensed in good standing as a veterinarian in another state that: (A) ha…

Sec. 801.258. TEMPORARY LICENSE TO PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE. The board by rule may provide for the issuance of a temporary license to practice veterinary medicine to an applicant who: (1) is licensed in good standing as a veterinarian in another state or foreign country; (2) …

Sec. 801.259. LICENSED EQUINE DENTAL PROVIDER DESIGNATIONS. (a) A person may not represent to the public that the person is authorized to perform equine dentistry or use the titles "dentist," "certified equine dental provider," "equine dental provider," "CEDP," or "EDP" unless sp…

Sec. 801.260. REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM EQUINE DENTISTRY. A person may not perform equine dentistry or offer or attempt to act as an equine dental provider unless the person is: (1) a veterinarian who is active and in good standing; (2) a licensed equine dental provider who is acti…

Sec. 801.261. LICENSED EQUINE DENTAL PROVIDER: APPLICATION, QUALIFICATIONS, AND ISSUANCE. (a) The board shall issue an equine dental provider license to a person who is qualified under this section. A person is qualified to be licensed as an equine dental provider if the person: …

Sec. 801.262. SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF LICENSED EQUINE DENTAL PROVIDER. (a) A licensed equine dental provider may not perform equine dentistry unless the provider is active and in good standing and performs equine dentistry under the general supervision of a veterinarian who is activ…

Sec. 801.263. LICENSED EQUINE DENTAL PROVIDER RESPONSIBILITY. A licensed equine dental provider shall be held to the same standard of care as a veterinarian when the provider performs the equine dental procedures described in Section 801.262(b). Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S…

Sec. 801.264. JURISPRUDENCE EXAMINATION. (a) The board shall develop and administer a jurisprudence examination for licensed equine dental providers to determine an applicant's knowledge of this chapter, board rules, and any other applicable laws of this state affecting the appli…

Sec. 801.265. LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN: APPLICATION, QUALIFICATIONS, AND ISSUANCE. (a) The board shall issue a veterinary technician license to a person who is qualified under this section. A person is qualified to be licensed as a licensed veterinary technician if the pers…

Sec. 801.266. LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN LICENSE REQUIRED; DISPLAY OF LICENSE. (a) A person may not use the title "Licensed Veterinary Technician" or "LVT" or advertise or offer services in a manner to lead other people to believe that the person is licensed as a licensed vet…

Sec. 801.267. CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION FOR LICENSE ISSUANCE. (a) The board shall require that an applicant for a license submit a complete and legible set of fingerprints, on a form prescribed by the board, to the board or to the Department of Public Safety for the pur…

Sec. 801.301. LICENSE TERM AND RENEWAL. (a) The board shall provide: (1) that each type of license under this chapter is valid for a term of one year or two years; and (2) for the renewal of a license. (b) The board by rule may adopt a system under which licenses expire on variou…

Sec. 801.302. NOTICE OF LICENSE EXPIRATION. Not later than the 30th day before the expiration date of a person's license, the board shall send written notice of the impending license expiration to the person at the person's last known address according to the board's records. Act…

Sec. 801.303. PROCEDURE FOR RENEWAL. (a) A person who is otherwise eligible to renew a license may renew an unexpired license by paying the required renewal fee to the board before the expiration date of the license. A person whose license has expired may not engage in activities…

Sec. 801.304. FEE EXEMPTION. A veterinarian is exempt from the fee requirements imposed under Section 801.303 if the veterinarian: (1) is on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States and does not engage in private or civilian practice; or (2) is permanently and total…

Sec. 801.305. RENEWAL OF EXPIRED LICENSE BY OUT-OF-STATE PRACTITIONER. (a) A person who was licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state, moved to another state, and is currently licensed in good standing and has been in practice in the other state for the two years pre…

Sec. 801.306. INACTIVE STATUS. The board by rule may provide for the placement of a license holder on inactive status. The rules adopted under this section may not include a limit on the time a license holder may remain on inactive status. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, e…

Sec. 801.307. CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) The board by rule shall establish a minimum number of hours of continuing education required to renew a license to practice veterinary medicine or work as a licensed veterinary technician. The board shall require six hours of continuing edu…

Sec. 801.308. CONTINUING EDUCATION AUDITS. (a) The board shall monitor compliance with continuing education requirements by conducting random audits of license holders seeking renewal. The board staff may conduct an audit at any time. The board may perform additional compliance m…

Sec. 801.309. CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL. (a) An applicant renewing a license issued under this chapter shall submit a complete and legible set of fingerprints for purposes of performing a criminal history record information check of the a…

Sec. 801.351. EXISTENCE OF VETERINARIAN-CLIENT-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP. (a) A person may not practice veterinary medicine unless a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists. A veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists if the veterinarian: (1) assumes responsibility for m…

Sec. 801.352. PROHIBITION AGAINST INTERFERENCE OR INTERVENTION. (a) The professional services of a veterinarian may not be controlled or exploited by a person who: (1) is not a veterinarian; and (2) intervenes between the veterinarian and the veterinarian's client. (b) A veterina…

Sec. 801.353. CONFIDENTIALITY; WAIVER. (a) A veterinarian may not violate the confidential relationship between the veterinarian and the veterinarian's client. (b) A veterinarian may not be required to release information concerning the veterinarian's care of an animal, except on…

Sec. 801.354. AUTHORIZED BUSINESS PRACTICES. It is not a violation of this chapter for a veterinarian, or a business entity authorized under this chapter to render veterinary services, to: (1) lease space for the purpose of providing veterinary services; (2) pay for franchise fee…

Sec. 801.3541. LOCATION OF VETERINARY PRACTICE. The premises on which a veterinary practice is located may be owned by a person or other legal entity that does not hold a license to practice veterinary medicine issued under this chapter. Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, S…